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Planning commission approves wireless monopole; record shows differing height references in staff materials
Summary
Commissioners approved a conditional use permit for a wireless communication facility near Lone Mountain Road; the record contains inconsistent height references (staff packet references both 150 feet and 50 feet).
The Santa Fe County Planning Commission on May 15 approved a conditional use permit for a new wireless communication facility on a vacant ranch parcel near Lone Mountain Road, a project intended to improve cellular coverage for residents and emergency response along the NM-14 corridor.
County staff’s packet contains two different height references: an early portion of the staff presentation describes the applicant’s proposal as a new 150-foot-tall monopole, while later language in the staff memo states the recommendation is to approve a monopole 50 feet in height within a 40-by-40-foot lease area. The record therefore contains a discrepancy in the documented proposed height; the commission approved the application subject to the staff conditions entered into the record.
David Kluchnik, speaking for the applicant team, said Verizon identified a service need in the NM-14 corridor and that the site selection was coordinated with community members to minimize visual impacts by siting near existing utility poles and away from high-occupancy areas. “There’s a dire need for emergency services to be able to make calls,” Kluchnik said, adding that the tower would be painted tan to blend with the surroundings and would accommodate multiple carriers in the future.
The applicant described the compound as a fenced 40-by-40-foot equipment area with a monopole built to accept additional carriers; the project narrative in the record says the facility would be unobtrusive once constructed and require minimal ongoing visits for maintenance. Commissioners asked about generator noise, geotechnical testing and permitting; the applicant said generator use would be for emergencies and that building and electrical permits would be processed through Santa Fe County and the Construction Industries Division.
The commission voted to approve the conditional use permit with the staff conditions read into the record. The record notes the site meets SLDC criteria and that the hearing officer recommended approval with conditions. Because the staff packet contains inconsistent references to tower height, the approved permit will be governed by the conditions and any final engineering and building-permit submittals filed with the county and CID.
